News & Events For Carlsbad & Oceanside

San Marcos man pleads guilty to trying to lure girls in Escondido

ESCONDIDO — A San Marcos man who tried to lure underage girls into his car from Escondido, and succeeded in obtaining a young girl to enter his vehicle, pleaded guilty today to felony charges of kidnapping, contact with a minor with intent to commit a sexual crime and unlawful possession of an assault rifle.

Spicer Van Allen Conant

46, Spicer Van Allen Conant, have to register as a sex offender for life and will be sentenced to eight years in prison. His sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 16 in the Vista courthouse.

Conant was arrested minutes following an 18-year-old woman agreed to enter his 1994 Mazda Miata convertible, at West 13th Avenue and South Escondido Boulevard the morning of March 21 during a traffic stop. In the back of the suspect’s car, police found an assault rifle and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition, ” Lt. Justin Murphy said.

Starting in May 2016, Conant asked them for directions to nearby roads or freeways, drove up on various Escondido roadways alongside girls and girls and encouraged them to enter his car, Murphy explained.

Observing the initial several suspected abduction efforts, which involved police identified Conant since the supposed perpetrator via a cellphone photo taken by a witness, ages 15 and 16 to girls, Murphy explained.

Though they decided that no offenses had occurred during those incidents, detectives interviewed Conant and put out a bulletin seeking other prospective victims. None came forward, and the case was closed, the lieutenant said.

On March 15, a man matching Conant’s description and driving a reddish older- version Mazda Miata asked her for directions and approached a girl, according to Murphy.

The driver started insisting that she get into his vehicle, after she complied with his request. Suspicious, the girl took a photo of him.

Due to the similarities with the suspected abduction efforts, Conant is put by detectives under surveillance, Murphy explained.

Approximately 6:30 a.m. on March 21, Conant left his home, drove into Escondido and approached five female pedestrians — four of these minors — over a period of approximately 90 minutes, the lieutenant said. The four declined his exhortations to enter his car, but when the pedestrian consented, officers promptly pulled Conant over and took him into custody, Murphy explained.